Immigrant and Refugee Resources

Know Your Rights

Resources:

Massacusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA)

Know Your Rights with ICE - Immigrant Defense Project

Know Your Rights in multiple Languages and video - ACLU Massachusetts

Know Your Rights National Immigration Law Center

This video from CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles) illustrates
several scenarios that you can discuss with your family and your community.

More Information

Know Your Rights Workshops - MIRA

Tips for Immigrants Concerned About Detention

If you have been in the US for more than 2 years:

  • Document length of stay in MA:  When detained, immigrants can be deported in 48 hours (called expedited removal). To avoid expedited removal, residents should have proof that they have lived here at least 2 years such as a Mass Health letter.  It should have date, name and show they have been getting services for at least 2 years.
  • Sign a Privacy Act Release form Privacy Act Waiver for USCIS immigration cases English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Khmer, Portuguese, Vietnamese.
    Once your form is filled out and signed with your original signature, please return it to the Boston office by email, casework@warren.senate.gov, or mail: Senator Elizabeth Warren, 2400 JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury Street, Boston MA 02203.  This can allow Senator Warren’s office to fight an expedited removal.
  • If you have a housing court date, you have the option to attend housing or other court by zoom.  Call the Eastern Housing Specialist Department (617) 788-6233 and ask to have their hearing changed to a remote hearing.
  • Decrease police interaction by abiding by all laws and making sure your vehicle is up to date on inspection, registration, and all external lights are working. Do not text and drive.
  • Prepare. There are many things you can do to prepare your family for possible deportation. See below.

Family Preparedness

There are many things you can do to prepare your family for possible deportation.

Emergency Preparedness resource compiled by the Immigrant Defense Project

  • Organizing Your Personal Documents: Everyone, but especially those who are undocumented, should keep their original identification and personal documents in a secure place. They should also make copies to store with a trusted individual in case they are detained. Important documents to secure include any immigration and criminal history documents and any application submitted to immigration, particularly those showing the A- number (alien number).
  •  Meeting with a Lawyer: They should do this as soon as possible to see if there is any legal defense against deportation. Specifically, the Immigrant Defense Project offers a free legal helpline at 212-725-6422. They also provide help at info@immdefense.org. A person hiring a lawyer should always have a signed contract and review it in their preferred language. They should ensure the client and attorney sign the contract and secure a copy.
  • Planning for Medical Needs: Anyone at risk of deportation should carry important medical information with them, as well as the contact information for doctors and the name and dosage of any medications they take. It is advised that they consider allowing someone they trust to access their medical information so they can have proper care if detained.
  • Planning for Childcare Needs: Parents facing deportation should identify someone who can take care of their children if they are detained. That person needs to have the school location and contact information and any medical conditions the child has. Emergency documents for each child should also be kept in a safe place where the caretaker can access them. The parent should also consult with a lawyer to determine if they want to grant a loved one the ability to make legal decisions for their child.
  • Planning for Financial Needs: People at risk of deportation are encouraged to consult with an attorney about whether to grant a loved one power to access their finances if they are detained. If so, they would sign a special power of attorney form for financial matters, allowing the loved one to access their bank account, pick up their paycheck, pay bills, and use their money to pay bonds.
Resources:

Caregiver Authorization Form

Immigration Legal Resource Center

Women’s Refugee Coalition:  Migrant Parents’ Guide to Preventing Family Separation
Support if You or a Family Member Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration

What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration

National Immigration Law Center 

Immigrant Detention Condition Project, Prisoners’ Legal Services of MA
Launched by Prisoners’ Legal Services (PLS) and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is to advocate on behalf of immigrants civilly detained in Massachusetts detention centers. The project focuses on improving conditions and addresses multiple issues faced by detained immigrants, including discrimination, placement in solitary confinement, language access needs, medical and mental health care, food and sanitation, and access to programming and services.

For those who are not incarcerated in MA: (617) 482-2773
Call collect for those incarcerated in MA county facilities: (617) 482-4124

Immigrant Defense Project
Supporting your loved one in their immigration bond hearing
List of immigration guides from various consulates:

ICE Detainer Frequently Asked Questions

Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN)
A community network of faith communities, individuals and other activist groups working to reduce the escalating harm of our immigration system.

  • Provide accompaniment, which can include support in court or at ICE check- ins, legal referrals, fundraising for bond or legal fees, letters of support from the community, rides for families to visit loved ones in detention, and logistical assistance with paperwork or bond payments, and more. Help with housing, transportation, and other immediate needs of people released on bond who have no other resources in the community.
  • Request Help Here

Immigration Referral List
List of various nonprofit immigration service providers in MA, including those specializing in children/youth.

Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities helps recent immigrants and refugees through transition programs and their own educational opportunities.

Address: 270 Washington Street, Somerville, MA, 02143
Phone: (617)-471-2904
Email: info@ccab.org

Greater Boston Legal Services
Assist with Asylum applications, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T visas, U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, Filings with USCIS, Representation at Asylum Interviews (Credible Fear Interviews, Reasonable Fear Interviews), Representation before the Immigration Court, Representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Federal court appeals.

Address: 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA, 02114
Phone: (617)-371-1234

International Institute of New England
Offers citizenship classes for those seeking to take the exam.

Address: 2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02116
Phone: (617)-695-9990

Address: 101 Jackson Street, Suite 2, Lowell, MA, 01852
Phone: (978)-459-0154
Email: info@iine.org

Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
Offers legal assistance, advocacy, and refugee support as well as community activism and political campaigns that support the needs of immigrants.

Address: 105 Chauncy Street, #901, Boston, MA, 02111
citizenship@miracoalition.org
Phone: (617)-350-5480

Click here for updates about Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Click here for updates about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Jewish Family and Children Services
Offers "New American Services" to help with naturalization. This includes many resources for Russian immigrants in particular.

Address: 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA, 02451
Phone: 781-647-5327
Email: info@jfcsboston.org

Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative
Made up of 15 immigrant serving organizations
Provides free legal consult.
Sign up here: https://linktr.ee/immigrantrelief

Agencia Alpha Legalization Program
Agencia ALPHA is an immigrant-led, grassroots organization working on behalf of immigrants from all walks of life, focusing primarily on the Latino population.

  • Immigration Advice & Consulting
  • Family Petitions & Adjustment of Status
  • TPS (Temporary Protection Status)
  • Work Permit Renewals

Free Citizenship Application Assistance.

Address: 62 Northampton St, Suite H101, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 522-6382
Email: info@agenciaalpha.org

Pathway for Immigrant Workers, Inc.
Assist low wage workers in employment-sponsored lawful permanent residence applications.
Make an appointment here: Info@MyImmigrantPathway.org

Phone: (617) 941-5230
Cambridge, MA

Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice
Help completing forms, Filings with USCIS, Representation at Asylum Interviews (Credible Fear
Interviews, Reasonable Fear Interviews), Representation before the Immigration Court

Address: 1167 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476
Phone: 617-417-4325
Email: dsantiago@mabelcenter.org

Harvard University Law School - Immigration and
Refugee Clinic
Representation at Asylum Interviews (Credible Fear Interviews, Reasonable Fear Interviews), Representation before the Immigration Court, Representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Federal court appeals.

Address 6 Everett St, Suite 3103, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: hirc@law.harvard.edu
Phone: (617) 384-8165

ImmigrationHelp.org
Help completing forms, Filings with USCIS, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Employment authorization

Address: 1 Broadway, 14th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142
Email: help@immigrationhelp.org
Phone: (313) 509-7369

Kids in Need of Defense
Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Removal hearings, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T visas, U visas Representation at Asylum Interviews (Credible Fear Interviews, Reasonable Fear Interviews), Representation before the Immigration Court

Phone: (617) 207-4138
Email: infoboston@supportkind.org

Project Citizenship
Legal assistance with Naturalization/Citizenship, Help completing forms, Filings with USCIS.

Address: 11 Beacon Street Suite 720, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 694-5949
Email: info@projectcitizenship.org

Political Asylum / Immigration Representation Project (PAIR)
P.A.I.R. PROJECT – Political Asylum and Immigration Resources
The P.A.I.R. Project refers persons seeking immigration assistance to private attorneys on a reduced fee basis.  While the attorney’s services are not free, the cost will be less than if you hire a private attorney directly.

Address: 98 North Washington Street, Suite 106, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 742-9296
Email: asharma@pairproject.org

Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement
Boston City Hall
1 City Hall Square, Rm. 806
Boston, MA 02201
(617) 635-2980

City of Boston Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement 
Offers free one-time immigration consultations on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.  Consultations are by telephone. Due to high demand, you must register for an appointment beforehand. The consultations are limited to advice and information and do not lead to legal representation. To register for an appointment with a volunteer lawyer, call 617-635-2980 or email
immigrantadvancement@boston.gov

Local placement and resettlement agencies  for refugees

Refugee And Immigrant Assistance Center 

RIAC offers programs and services that help with refugee resettlement, citizenship applications, community counseling, community support programs, community outreach and education, post resettlement services, and COVID-19 education and mobile vaccine clinics. 

Address: 253 Roxbury Street, Boston, MA 02119
Phone: (617)-238-2430 or (617)-238-2431
Email: riac@riacboston.org 

Catholic Charitable of Boston 

CCAB offers aid such as basic needs, childcare, elder services, family services, interpreter services, emergency assistance.

Refugee Resettlement
Refugees from all corners of the world including Burma, Bhutan, Cuba, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan and Vietnam are welcomed to Boston by Catholic Charities staff. The newcomers are provided with a modest apartment furnished with basic necessities; and assisted with acculturation, job placement services and English language training. 

Immigration Legal Services
Upon arrival in the United States, immigrants face a daunting array of linguistic, economic, cultural and legal challenges. Through immigration legal services, newcomers receive high-quality legal consultation, referral and representation for an array of immigration benefits, such as political asylum, naturalization and family reunification.

Address: Inc 275 West Broadway Boston 02127
Phone: (617)-464-8100 or (617)-464-8150
Email: infor@ccab.org 

International Institute Of Boston (IINE)

Works with refugees and immigrants to create opportunities for resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. Assists with Adjustment of Status, Consular Processing, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Employment authorization, Employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant petitions, Family-based petitions, Naturalization/Citizenship, T visas, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions.

Address: 2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617)-695-9990 or (617)-695-9191
Email: info@iine.org

International Institute Of Lowell 

Address: 101 Jackson Street, Suite 2, Lowell, MA 01852
Phone: (978)-459-9031 or (978)-459-0154
Email: info@iine.org